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CONGRATULATIONS! to 2005 AHN Awardee
TIM LEFENS of Artistic Realization Technologies (A.R.T.)
 The Arts and Healing Network is delighted to present Tim Lefens with the 2005 AHN Award for his groundbreaking work with individuals who, as he describes, "have never walked, rarely if ever spoken, and have little or no practical use of their fingers. Because of their silence they have been overlooked." To help empower them, Lefens founded Artistic Realization Technologies (A.R.T.), a New Jersey-based nonprofit creating tools and techniques that allow for the uncompromised creative self-expression of those with the most severe physical challenges. These techniques include laser-guided painting along with other techniques that bring exacting control.
The impact has been immense. As Lefens explains, "Healing takes place that clinicians never dreamed of. I've seen it everywhere we've goneÉa silent, despondent, vegetative child, then -- with their realizing their full creative power -- POOM! alive with joy. That's healing." Lefens has secured top notch exhibitions for these artists, and has written a wonderful, spirited account of them in his award-winning book, Flying Colors. He is currently working to expand the use of A.R.T. techniques across the nation.
To learn more TimÕs outstanding work, read his statement upon receiving the award,
or read an interview with Tim in the January 2005 AHN News or visit www.artealization.org.
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UPDATE on 2004 AHN Awardee, BILL TALEN
 Bill Talen continues his remarkable public performances as Reverend Billy from the Church of Stop Shopping. Adopting the manner and tone of a Baptist preacher with his Stop Shopping Gospel Choir, Bill cleverly uses performance and parody to call into question America's mindless consumption of resources. In the past year, Reverend Billy has been very busy – he has initiated readings of the 1st Amendment on a weekly basis at the site of the World Trade Center, produced a video, and traveled across the nation by bus asking consumers in places from Starbucks to WalMart to "Save your soul my childÉBack away from that silly product on that shelf."
Most recently, Bill wrote to the Arts and Healing Network about the "Funeral for Trees," a memorial he presided over, set up by the neighborhood people of Astoria, Brooklyn, NY who had lost the Remsen House and its surrounding grove to developers. As Bill Talen write, "The surprise cutting down of these trees -- up to two centuries-old -- left a complex of feelings under the general sorrow. I can say this – looking back at our shared afternoon. I donÕt think they will let this happen again. I can also say that what happened Saturday at the "Funeral For Trees" in Queens is the best use of the Reverend Billy project that IÕve experienced since we faced down a Home Depot in San Francisco a year ago."
Learn more about the "Funeral for Trees" and Reverend Billy at www.revbilly.com. Or read an interview with him in the February 2004 AHN News and visit his AHN Award Page.
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UPDATE on 2003 AHN Awardee, PATRICIA JOHANSON
 Environmental artist Patricia Jonhanson recently wrote to AHN saying, "I am currently working with Carollo Engineers on a new $93 million dollar water recycling facility for the city of Petaluma, California. The project includes oxidation ponds, sewage treatment wetlands, and polishing ponds for the removal of heavy metals, as well as a new 272-acre tidal marsh and mudflat. Called the PETALUMA WETLANDS PARK, it will unify massive man-made landscapes organized for food production, sewage processing, and water purification, with many layers of public and ecological benefit -- from wildlife habitat restorations and school educational programs, to recreation, tourism and art. Perhaps most important, it serves as a model for converting sewage to drinkable water. One of my missions as a designer is to create inclusive, life-supporting landscapes that broaden human understanding.
Patricia also says, "Artists have always changed the way we see. Now we need to change the way we act. The new wholeness and harmony lies not in design perfection but in our ability to bring competing populations, interests, and points of view together harmoniously in the real world. Ultimately my projects seek design solutions that are as creative, functional, and biologically productive as nature itself."
Pictured above is a plan for the Recycled Water Pond which will be part of the Patricia's project in Petaluma, CA. Learn more about PatriciaÕs amazing large scale envionmental art projects at www.patriciajohanson.com. Or read an interview with her in the April 2003 AHN News and visit her AHN Award Page.
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UPDATE on 2002 AHN Awardee, LILY YEH
 Lily Yeh, founder of the Philadelphia-based Village of Arts and Humanities has been taking her wonderful work -- of revitalizing neighborhoods and bringing healing through art and gardening -- international with her latest endeavor, Barefoot Artists, Inc. As she explains, "As for myself, I have established another nonprofit organization named Barefoot Artists, Inc. Inspired by the work performed by the Chinese barefoot doctors, the name implies working for the poor, going wherever needed, practicing the arts, bringing healing and moving on. I aim that it is more about projects and less about organization building."
Last year Lily was busy at work in the Korogocho community ouside of Nairobi working with youth to clean up their neighborhood and educating about AIDS/HIV prevention through art. This year, she will be working for a school of migrant workers in Beijing, the poorest of the poor, to transform their local environment. And, as she writes, "Then the real big project is in Rwanda. I am collaborating with a local host to work with a survivorsÕ village consisting of 100 families with 500 children. We will be doing economic development like buying goats and chickens and build a mushroom farm and plant avocado trees, etc. for the people. Then we will do art about remembering and reconciliation and begin to paint the village. This way people wonÕt suffer from hunger, and they will have strength to paint, and the result will be beautiful. Anyway this is a start. We will see where it goes."
The picture above shows Lily surrounded by children in Africa. Learn more about LilyÕs outstanding work on her AHN Award page.
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UPDATE on 2001 AHN Awardee, BONNIE ORA SHERK
 Bonnie is continuing her wonderful work with "A Living Library" which you can read about on her AHN Award page or at www.alivinglibrary.org.
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UPDATE on 2000 AHN Awardee, BETSY DAMON
 After winning the AHN Award in 2000, Betsy Damon spent nearly three years working with the Beijing bureau of Hydraulic Engineering (the equivalent to the US Army Corps), advising them on creating more sustainable practices. She also has been involved in numerous art and water projects including the "Sounds of Water Fountain" in Redding, CA at the Turtlebay Arboretum, which will be opening in May 2005. This piece is a combination of science, education and recreation, and as Betsy explains, "I enjoyed doing this work because it reveals and articulates that water is the source of life."
Betsy is also busy as a mentor for many projects including an activist handbook, trainings, and cultivating resources that make projects possible. One mentee, Duncan Cheng, has been doing the research for a village that models waste water management and water protection. In six short months he has succeeded in starting government-funded bio gas collection in most households, and trained twelve Chinese to do the necessary research. As Betsy explains, "This and so much more is taking place now that there is a foundation of understanding about the importance of water, water sheds, etcÉ.. Now the design for a living water fountain is being completed for Memphis, TN and river projects are being started in Knoxville, TN, Olympia, WA and in the Hudson River Valley."
The picture above shows a close up of the flow forms at the Living Water Park created by Betsy Damon in Chengdu China. To learn more about Betsy's work visit her AHN Award page or visit www.keepersofthewaters.org.
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UPDATE on 1999 AHN Awardee, MARILYN WOOD
 Marilyn Wood is the founder and director of the International Center for Celebration (ICC), whose mission is "to discover the role of celebration as a vital element within our global community and to promote the creation of new celebrations that nurture the essence and spirit of peoples everywhere." Marilyn recently sent AHN this update: "In 2001 the core group of artists of the ICC network gathered in Santa Fe, NM coming from Australia, Africa, Europe, Canada and the U.S. We updated each other on our current projects, reviewed some of what we had collaboratively done over the years and celebrated together for three days as we know so very well how to do. At this time, I announced that I would now be focusing entirely on finding a home for the Celebration Arts Archive that records very fully in print, video, slides, audiotapes and more our work with communities around the world for 30 years."
Marilyn continues by saying, "This has been my personal focus since then. Interest has come from a variety of sources but the institution or facility with the current means to take on such a large, though well-organized, collection has yet to be identified. Our goal is to find a home where young people interested in a career in the arts could discover the artform of celebration to be an option for their talent and energies." Marilyn invites feedback and advice about how to best achieve this goal. You could contact her at International Center for Celebration, PO Box 9590, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504 or email mwoodicc@aol.com.
To learn more about Marilyn and ICC, please visit her AHN award page.
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UPDATE on 1998 AHN Awardee, BILL WITHERSPOON
 Bill Witherspoon is currently building a company called The Sky Factory. The Sky Factory's goal is to build the perfect SkyCeiling. A SkyCeiling is a powerful illusion that triggers the same psychological and physiological response that occurs when one lies looking up into a beautiful sky. We all know the experience and we all know the result -- reduced anxiety, serenity, and inner peace. Many SkyCeilings go into healthcare facilities where patients consistently attest to such experiences.
SkyCeilings are based on knowledge of our habits of perception. Just as a magician creates a highly believable (though completely unreal) reality through skilled manipulation of our perceptual habits; so The Sky Factory uses tools such as full spectrum lighting, traditional skylight design and highly specific photography to create an interior ceiling that leads us beyond the mere picture of sky to an authentic experience of sky.
For more information please read The Sky Factory "Artist's Statement". Or visit BillÕs AHN Award page to learn about his earlier work with sacred geometry.
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Information on the AHN Award
Each year the Arts and Healing Network(AHN) honors a healing artist who is truly making a difference in the world. AHN offers this award as a surprise gift. There is no application. Our hope is that this award will offer the recipient inspiration and support to continue and expand their outstanding work. We also hope it will inspire visitors to our site and light the way for other healing artists. To learn more, vist the AHN Award page.
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READERS RESPOND
Please send your thoughts and feedback on this month's news page to ahn@artheals.org. We would love to hear from you.
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